Can you love me

g e t t i n g b l e s s e d

The biggest day of celebration in our Academy is Blessing Ceremony. People of great names and stature showed up to give the blessing to next set of trained sacrificial goats, the Knights. There is food, drinks, dance and an honour battle that prince does.

It is manners that we let the Prince win in this battle and it was a pretty much boring affair. The only good thing about this is food but even that can't pull me out of my hide-out. But Jayden Wallace is a lot more compelling that food.

"Open the damn door Frozen or I will break it," Jayden shouted.

"She has locked herself since morning." My traitor of an Armour informed.

"I swear I will not make you dance. But you are f*****g Knight this year, you need to attend the ceremony. You can't be one without the blessing of royals."

Did he know I don't care?

"And they give the silver blessed sword to the best of all," Armour added.

What? No one told me that. A blessed silver sword is to evil supernatural like holy water to demons.

I opened the door and there stood the two boys looking breathtakingly handsome.

"You are going to the celebration in your pyjamas?" Jayden asked with a dry look.

"Where are you here? Don't you have an arm candy to carry to the dance." I walked in searching for something to wear and brazenly the two boys entered.

"Your bodyguard here threatened me that I can't dance with you or you can't dance with anyone." I gave Armour a subtle look of gratitude which he answered with a nod.

"What Jayden, scared of a Golden Knight?" I teased him and pulled out the dress my mum bought me and now I know why.

"No, I don't want you to be without a guard." He added with a hint of arrogance.

The dress was maroon with a golden ribbon tied on the waist. It ended right above my knees and just for the rebellion sake I paired it with my black calf length boat.

I stepped out of the bathroom and just untied my hair from the bun giving it a quick brush. I looked at my dark circles and finally decided I don't give a s**t if anyone thinks I should have worn some makeup to hide it.

I looked up at the two boys in my room and was shocked to see both staring at me in something close to shock.

"What?" I asked rather harshly.

That snapped them back to senses.

"That weird?" I asked in a dry tone.

"Pretty," Armour said in a stiff tone.

"Hot," Jayden added, this time, shocking me.

Avoiding the erratic heartbeat and embarrassment I walked out in a rush.

How can Armour call me pretty, he knew about my curse?

***

Keeping in low light was not possible for me, I was escorted by two gorgeous boys. So when I entered the blessing, late as it is all attention shifted on me. Like the cold girl I was , I have them my challenging look and they looked away.

Finally, my eyes found the five royals sitting right in front of me. By Gods' glory, they were busy looking at our rap sheet to see if we were good enough to bless. Not all registered get blessed, only those who please the royals in one way to another get the blessing. But my parents being hot shot promised me that I didn't need to impress the royals and better stay in hiding from them.

The white beard King was indulging in drinking wine while the queen was too busy chatting with someone over the phone. Two other, most probably the princess and her husband were talking with teachers from our school. And then in the centre sat the Prince. He looked ruthless, calculating and brooding type. Upbringing did him good, he was well built with too fine looks which made me look less like a human and more like a perfect statue.

He carried a cold, don't -approach- me aura and I know what people felt around me.

"Where were you on the weekend?" Jayden asked.

I looked at Armour and then at Jayden, what was I suppose to say.

"To her father's place, he was not well." Armour lied like a pro.

Yet Jayden didn't look satisfied.

"Who gave you this?" Jayden pointed at my bracelet and for some reason, I felt like telling me everything about me.

"Mind your business Jayden."

"Frozen, you are my business." He gave me his intense looks that made something flutter in my gut.

"Do you need me to teach him a lesson?" Armour said seriously next to me.

"No, I need you two dance together."

Armour glared at me while Jayden scoffed.

After a while, the sword dance began marking the start of ritual. We all just stood there trying to fall asleep. Next came the reciting of some magical prayers in which Brendon joined in. The dreaded moment of dance was approaching and I wanted to run away.

Jayden was also in the magical prayers thingy and this was not usual because new Silver Knights are not allowed to do this. Armour didn't leave my side.

As the prayers ended all the Silver Knights formed a queue and step by step, a man with a white staff stood there sprinkling water on those who got a nod from royals. Jayden got a quick nod from the queen while Laura got a nod from Princess's husband and an encouraging smile. When my turn came I suddenly started feeling anxious about all this.

What if these people can sense my defect and never bless me to protect people.

I looked at every person up there. King didn't look interested in me while Queen was thinking. Princess give me dismissing look while her husband was nonchalant. My eyes found the prince who didn't nod for people, he just sat there and acted all scary.

"Challenge," Prince spoke up and like an instinct Armour moved in front of me.

Everyone in the hall gasped. Holy s**t! Did I just got invited to the Prince's challenge?

I stepped forward carrying on my cold demeanour.

"Accepted," I answered and saw Armour give me an exasperated look while Jayden looked worried.

Now every single attention was on me, even the disinterred royals.

My hands felt the familiar desire to kill and destroy but I clutched a sword to avoid any mistakes. Prince also chose a sword and looked at me like a predator looks at it Prey. I noticed he has green eyes that held a lot of hate and power.

Even without a warning, he jumped at me with the sword which I blocked realising the ample amount of power the prince carried . I deflected but his attack sent tremors through my body.

He is using magic. Jayden's voice said in my head.

And for a second I got surprised and distracted. This gave the prince his chance and I got a cut over my shoulder making me jump back in surprise. Jayden Wallace, get out of my head.

I shouted in my head hoping this will get him the message.

He is the freaking Prince Annalise, please pay attention.

And I did, deciding to freak out on Jayden later. Prince was fast, real fast and sometimes I didn't catch his movements. In a moment he was a blur and next I had another cut somewhere on my body.

Use magic to block him, Annalise!

It oddly bothered me when he called me Annalise and not Frozen. Magic to block , huh? Okay so only one that was a tad bit easy for me was air so I did a little math in my head and created walls of air around the Prince so that he can't use his speed to his advantage.

Thankfully, his next speed stunt made him run into one of my air walls visible only to me. And I used this to hit his abdomen. My blade somehow pierced his armour and he fell back. I eyed Jayden but he looked confused and then at Armour who had this smug look on his expressionless face.

So now even my bodyguard had the magic talent.

Wasn't there a rule to let Prince win?

Well, I was born to be a rule breaker.

Prince got up in surprise and healers rushed next to him but he held his hand in a stopping gesture. There was pin drop silence except for my heavy breathing and probably my very loud heartbeat.

My eyes found Luca Esilton and relief coursed through me when I saw pride in his eyes. Prince walked towards me , his face still cold and stiff as he analysed me with those scary green eyes. He was beautiful up close in an unrealistic , inhumane way.

And then he closed his eyes and his lips loved murmuring some words. The sword in his hand glowed and he opened his eyes.

"Here, for a real fight." His baritone voice surprised me as it held gentleness.

The blessed sword.

I couldn't utter a word as he gave me an approval with a nod.

No one dared to make a move as the Prince closed in and bending down real close looked into my eyes with those forest green ones and whispered, "It was nice meeting you, lice."

And I choked in surprise, it can't be.

And then a smile formed on his otherwise expressionless face as he stepped away, his stance not as dangerous as before.

"Blade?" I spoke up finally.

I am sure people around me were shocked and angry at my behaviour.

But he was the only friend I had when I was four, he taught me to use the dagger and then suddenly we moved and I forget all about Blade, only he called me Lice since he said my presence was annoying like one and I called him Blade because he always carried one with him , even when he was only two years older than me.

Was he a freaking prince?

As the people started talking again others got blessings, Armour moved next to me.

"Are you alright?"

I laughed darkly, "You should ask if Prince is fine."

"I am paid to protect you and not him." There was a rough edge to his voice.

"I am good. Do you know Jayden can talk in my head and you can do magic as well." I said in an accusing tone.

"I am Golden Knight, It is given that I am good in magic. While Jayden's bloodline might be magic hence the advance use of magic." He explained all this while his hand on my shoulder.

"Armour, you know my presence will kill people." I pointed at his hand on my shoulder.

"And like I said I am here to protect you, other's are not my concern."

Jayden walked up that moment before I could put meaning to his rough words.

"well done, Frozen." He looked pleased and displeased at the same time.

"Don't ever get in my head again." I snapped at him since I kept a distance from people and was not use to such things.

He gave me a look like I was the trouble in his life he couldn't get rid of.

"Same goes for you Frozen!" And this time, there was a tone of desperation in his voice.